The Election Commission of India has played a crucial role in the regulation and administration of electoral politics since Independence. From the 1990s, it has extended its remit and scope of intervention. Using a series of case studies, this article examines the process of regulatory expansion in contemporary Indian politics, looking first at interventions that have attempted to restrict the timing, conduct and reporting of campaigns, and second at initiatives to control the participation of voters, candidates, and parties in the electoral process. This article evaluates the implications of this regulatory expansion for the practice of electoral politics in India.
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